[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 19 (Monday, May 13, 2002)]
[Pages 756-757]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Stockholm Convention on 
Persistent Organic Pollutants

May 6, 2002

To the Senate of the United States:

    With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith the Stockholm Convention on Persistent 
Organic Pollutants, with Annexes, done at Stockholm, May 22-23, 2001. 
The report of the Secretary of State is also enclosed for the 
information of the Senate.
    The Convention, which was negotiated under the auspices of the 
United Nations Environment Program with the leadership and active 
participation of the United States, commits Parties to take significant 
steps, similar to those already taken by the United States, to eliminate 
or restrict the production, use, and/or release of 12 specified 
persistent organic pollutants (POPs). When I announced that the United 
States would sign the Convention, I noted that POPs chemicals, even when 
released abroad, can harm human health and the environment in the United 
States. The Convention obligates Parties to take measures to eliminate 
or restrict the production, use, and trade of intentionally produced 
POPs, to develop action plans to address the release of unintentionally 
produced POPs, and to use best available techniques to reduce emissions 
from certain new sources of unintentionally produced POPs. It also 
includes obligations on the treatment of POPs stockpiles and wastes, as 
well as a science-based procedure to add new chemicals that meet defined 
criteria.
    The United States, with the assistance and cooperation of 
nongovernmental organizations and industry, plays an important 
international leadership role in the safe management of hazardous 
chemicals and pesticides. This Convention, which will bring over time, 
an end to the production and use of certain of these toxic chemicals 
beyond our borders, will positively affect the U.S. environment and 
public health. All relevant Federal agencies support early ratification 
of the Convention for these reasons, and we understand that affected 
industries and interest groups share this view.

[[Page 757]]

    I recommend that the Senate give prompt and favorable consideration 
to the Convention and give its advice and consent to ratification, 
subject to the understandings described in the accompanying report of 
the Secretary of State, at the earliest possible date.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 May 6, 2002.

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
May 7.